Markets to get into full swing

The Public and Private sectors have cancelled festival celebrations after the floods so Kerala flower markets have been affected. Arrival of flowers from TamilNadu & Karnataka make it a major market. There is a great demand for all types of flowers in the State during the Onam season. But this year, the cancellation of Onam festivities following the floods and the absence of Pookkalams (floral carpets) in houses and institutions severely hit the flower markets. Private functions were confined to indoors without flower decorations. “The low demand for personal use by women has also affected the market. Marriages are being held without much celebration these days,” said an employee of a flower shop at Kattappana. The prices of various varieties of flowers fluctuate depending on the supply and demand. The Kerala markets decide the price of the flowers that is an integral part of the Malayali festivals. The price of a kilogram of jasmine had reached 7,500 to 8,000 by the end of January, but dropped to 400 later, though its supply had not increased. The shop owners have to bear transportation charges in addition to the cost of the flowers. Since the shelf life of flowers is too short , if they are unsold the vendors have to bear huge losses. There was a bumper production of marigold in Tamil Nadu this season. However, the crops cultivated in view of the Onam market couldn’t fetch the expected prices. Farms cultivating fowers like Marigold, Chrysanthemum and Jasmine are located in Cumbom valley , Dindigul, Uthamapalayam, and Seelayampatti. It will take a long time for the flower markets in the State to get back to normalcy.